Who is a candidate for Botswana’s presidential election?

On October 30, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1966, will hold a national election in which President Mokgweetsi Masisi is the front-runner to win a second term against three opponents.

Members of the National Assembly are chosen by voters, who subsequently choose the president. The following details pertain to the candidates:

MOKGWEETSI MASISI

Following his tenure as vice president under predecessor Ian Khama, Masisi assumed the presidency in 2018. After his party, the BDP, won the 2019 election, he was re-elected as president.

Before going into politics, the 63-year-old served as a schoolteacher and then for UNICEF, a children’s organization run by the United Nations. His first tenure was marred by high unemployment and slower growth as a result of the waning market for diamonds, which are vital to Botswana’s economy, worldwide.

Last year, Masisi won support for negotiating a new sales agreement with De Beers that will increase the nation’s diamond fortune, but his detractors claim he hasn’t done enough to diversify the economy and provide employment.

Khama, who supports an opposition party and accuses him of authoritarianism, has a falling out with him.

BOKO DUMA

The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), an opposition alliance that finished second in 2019 and continues to be the BDP’s strongest rival, is being led by 54-year-old lawyer Duma Boko for the third time.

Boko suggests expanding the involvement of the government in the economy in his party’s agenda in order to promote sustainable economic and social development.

The last election was contested by Boko’s party as being rigged in the High Court, but the case was dismissed.

DUMELANG SALESHANDO

The 53-year-old leader of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is Dumelang Saleshando. In previous elections, the BCP, which was established in 1998, has received between 10% and 20% of the vote.

Saleshando succeeded his father as the leader of the BCP party in 2010. The party uses “Save Botswana” as its campaign slogan and considers itself to be a social democratic party.

MEPHATO REATILE

Following Khama’s split from the BDP due to his conflict with Masisi, members of the ruling party formed the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) in 2019, with Mephato Reatile as its head.

Khama has returned from exile for three years to back the BPF in the election; her father, Seretse Khama, was Botswana’s first president.
In 2019, almost 4% of the vote went to the party.